Nozzle



Feb. 20, 1962 3,022,016

R. S. SHREWSBAURY NOZZLE Filed Nov. 13, 1959 VIII/IIIA INVENTOR F0655 TS SHREwsBa/R y ATTORNEYS United States Patent O tlce 3,022,016 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 This invention relates to nozzles, and more particularly to nozzles for discharging fluid under pressure laterally relative to a conduit to which it is secured.

The nozzle of the present invention is appiicable to the sectionizing of citrus fruits by the procedures disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 727,185. However, it will be apparent that the nozzle of the invention is capable of many other uses, and hence the invention is not limited to any particular use or application.

It is an object of this invention lto provide a novel nozzle construction adapted to produce a relatively thin, wide stream of liquid discharging laterally from a tube or conduit on which the nozzle is arranged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tubular nozzle construction wherein fluid passes in one direction around an outer surface of a tubular portion of the nozzle and is dicharged tangentially in a relatively thin, wide stream.

These and further objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilied in the art from the foilowing detailed description taken in conjunction Iwith the appended drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a radial cross-sectional view of a pair of oppositely disposed nozzles of this invention shown in an exemplary operating position relative to a portion of a citrus fruit;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the structure of each or the nozzles of FlGURE 1;

FGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational View of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5--5 of FIGURE 6; and

FlGURE 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 4. l

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the embodiment of the invention there shown comprises a tubular body portion 16 having one of its ends 12 adapted to be suitably joined to a conduit 14 for communication with a source of fluid under pressure, for example, water. For this purpose, end 12 of portion 1d may be integral with conduit 14 or it may be appropriately sealingly engaged thereto, as by welding. ln this connection, portion it) and conduit TA may be made of metal, if desired, or they may be made of any suitable material.

Adjacent to and spaced from the other end 16 of body portion lil, there is formed an annular recess 1S having a narrow longitudinal opening 20 therein. The opening 2t) preferably extends the entire length of recess 1S between ends l2 and 16 of body portion 10. Disposed about body portion and surrounding recess 15, is a sleeve member 22 having an enlarged and longitudinally extending discharge slot 24. Sleeve 22 is disposed about reduced portion 1S so that the slot 24 is circumierentially spaced from the elongated opening 2i) in recess 13, and a iluid passage 21 is dened between the outer surface of recess 1S and the inner surface of the sleeve 22. Slot 24 is shown as being of approximately the same length as recess 18, as best seen in FIGURE 2.

A plug 26 having a stem portion 2S is shown iixedly secured to the end 16 of portion 19 with stem 28 being tted into end 16, as shown. Plug 25 provides a iluid seal for this end of portion 1t).

Preferably, the end 25 of sleeve 22 abuts the pipe 14 when assembled thereon, and the other end of the sleeve is in engagement with shoulder 30 of the plug 26. A longitudinally extending plug member 32 is disposed adjacent the opening 20 in conduit 10 so that iluid passing through the opening 20 will be directed circumferentially in one direction only, between the outer surface of the recess 1S and the inner surface of sleeve 22 toward slot 24 in the sleeve, as best indicated in FIGURE l. Aperture 24 is shown enlarged in Width so that iluid passing between reduced portion 18 and sleeve 22 is discharged therethrough in a thm wide sheet substantially tangentially to the outer surface of recess 18. In this` respect, a portion of the discharge slot 24 is shown located in the direct ilow path of the duid between reduced portion 15.5 and sleeve 22 so that the duid will encounter minimum obstruction as it passes outwardly from the nozzle in the direction of the arrows of FGURE l.

The sleeve 22 may be secured to the portion 1li in any appropriate manner so as to prevent lthe flow of fluid between the engaged surfaces of the portion 10 and sleeve 22. For example, if all parts are made of metal, sleeve 22 may be welded or press-fitted to body portion 10, and/or conventional O-ring seals may be provided coaxially around portion 10 between end 25 of sleeve 22 and the adjacent end of pipe 14, and also between the opposite end of sleeve 22 and shoulder 30 ot plug 26.

Plug 32 will be of such size and shape that it will eiectively block flow of iluid in a counterclockwise direction in the space between sleeve 22 and recess 18 in the right-hand nozzle shown in FIGURE l, as should be evident. This plug is shown as being of rectangular coniiguration, and will be sealingly engaged to the surrounding or adjacent surfaces of recess 18 and sleeve 22 in any suitable fashion. g

A guide vane 34 having an elongated and curved portion 36 adapted to releasably engage the sleeve 22, and also having a guiding portion 38 extending outwardly from the curved portion 36, may be disposed upon the sleeve 22 so that the portion 38 extends in the general direction of the tangential discharge of uid from the slot 24 (FGURE l). Tubular portion 36 may bemade of a resilient or springy material adapted to resiliently and releasably grip the sleeve 22, as will be apparent.

Plug 32 may be made of any appropriate material.

IIt may be made integral with, or otherwise xedly secured to, the body portion 1). As the plug 32 remains adjacent to opening 20 in body'll), fluid passing through the body 1li and outwardly through the opening 20, passes only in one direction between recess 18 and the sleeve 22 towards the slot 24.

It is to be understood that in the construction and arrangement of the nozzle, the circumferential spacing of the slot 24 from opening 20 may be varied in accordance with the desired angle or direction of discharge of uid from the slot 24. As shown, the fluid will pass approximately 270 around recess 18 before discharging. If preferred, this may be varied so that the fluid passes through a Ygreater or lesser angle.

In operation, with the nozzle connected to a source of rluid under pressure as ydescribed above, fluid passing through the pipe, or hose, 14, passes into body portion 10 and then outwardly through the elongated opening 20 in its recessed portion 18. By reason of the presence of plug 32, the lluid will then pass only in one direction through the circumferential fluid passage 21 dened by the outer surface of reduced portion 18 of conduit 10 and the inner surface of sleeve 22 disposed about the conduit. Fluid passing through the passageway 21 thus passes circumferentially until it arrives at the slot 24, whereupon the uid is discharged from the nozzle subthe slot 24 of sleeve 22, as shown in FIGURE 1, the iiuid will notronly pass tangentially from the nozzle but will also be directed along the guiding portion 38 of the vane 34. A pair of nozzles may be oppositelymounted such that slots 24 of sleeves 22 face each other and the guide vane portions 38 are confronting (FIGURE 1), whereby the two nozzlesrmay operate to separate adjacent sections 40- of citrus fruit from an adjoining radial membrane 42 When the nozzles are positioned as shown inl `FIGURE 1 and used in a manner explained in my copending application, referred to above. v

Another embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6. This embodiment is similar to that just described, and hence, similar reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts in the two embodiments. VIn FIGURES 4-6, the nozzle is shown as being formed on conduit 14 by means of annular recess 18', opening 20 therein, sleeve 22 surrounding the conduit 14 and recess 18"and suitably secured to the conduit 14 in fluid-tight manner. PlugY 32 is provided between sleeve 22. and recess 18', and slot 24 is formed in the sleeve in the manner shown. End 16 of conduit 14 may be sealed off in any appropriate fashion with the other end of the conduit communicating with a source of duid under pressure. As in the previous embodiment, the parts may be made of any'desirable materials.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a device in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfullyV achieved. As various Vpossible embodiments may be made of theY mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as Yillustrative and notin a limiting sense.

It is claimed: Y

1. A nozzle comprising: a tubular conduit having an outer surface generally of circular cross-sectional con figuration and having a longitudinal opening in one side thereof; a sleeve having an inner surface generally of circular cross-sectional configuration having a longitudinal slot therein beingA otherwise imperforate and concentrically disposed about said conduit adjacent said opening to dene a thin circumferential passageway extending around Vat least a portion of said conduit, said longitudinal slot being circumferentially spaced from said opening, said sleeve including an imperforate section adjacent to and disposed radially outward from said opening, means sealingly engaging said imperforate section to said tubular conduit intermediate said opening and said slot to prevent the fluid passing outwardly through said opening from flowing in a radial direction, whereby `liuid passes circumferentially in one direction from said opening around a portion of `the outer surface of said conduit in between said conduit and said sleeve and is discharged from said slot vsubstantiallyl tangentially to the outer su.- face of said conduit.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in |which said tubular conduit is provided withra narrow annular recess therein, said longitudinal openingsand said sealing means being arranged in said recess, said sleeve being sealed to said tubular conduit in water-tight relationship at locations intermediate the edges o said annular recess and the ends of said tubular conduit.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which a guide vane is disposed about said sleeve, said guide vane having a portion extending outwardly from said nozzle in the direction of dischargeiof iiuid from said slot.

I 4. A nozzle comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal opening therein; tubular means defining a thin circumferential passageway of substantially uniform cross-section substantially throughout its length extending around at least a portion of said body, said tubular means being imperforate except for an aperture therein spaced circumferentially from said longitudinal opening, said tubular means further including an imperforate section disposed adjacent to and radially outward from said opening, means sealingly engaging said imperforate section to said tubular body between said opening and said aperture to prevent the fluid passingloutwardly through said opening from flowing in a radial direction and to direct fluid from said opening into said circumferential passageway for a iiow throughisad passageway around said portion of said body for discharge through said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,177,192 Lavender Mar. 28, 1916 1,354,424 Baker Jan. 4, 1921 1,751,960 Veenstra Mar. 25, 1930 1,987,962 Leupold n lan. l5, 1935 1,993,011 Lindberg MaI. 5, 1935 2,357,040 miWilliamson Aug. 29, 1944 

